Related to the last, can't resist posting this faux-trailer, Requiem for a Day Off...

The movie's got guts.

Saw The Wrestler on a whim last night, and it's still rattling around my head. Good sign. An entirely tactful film that takes place in a thoroughly tactless world. Mickey deserves all the praise he's been getting. Read Roger Ebert's review of the Darren Aronofsky's film here.

"In the beginning..."

Go for the movie, stay for the titles.
For your convenience, here are 30 of some of the best opening sequences, from Smashing magazine. For more, stop by Forget the Film, Watch the Titles.

"The Band" wishes you a Merry Christmas.

This is just a sweet Christmas song. I wish everyone a heart full of joy this season, and a year of abundance, peace, and love.

The scariest thing you'll see all day

I'm finally putting my satellite television envy to rest thanks to the addition of a new channel that's recently appeared on my out-dated TV set. It's "chiller" and it looks like Time Warner's answer to satellite's "monster" channel. If you're out there Chiller, this is for you, and thank you! This really gives me the heebee geebees...

"I'm Liberace without the piano"

"According to the World Almanac, is it okay to freeze your persimmons?"
- "No. You should dress warmly." Here's Paul Lynde in a genius promo for GSN.

"RV vacations in the desert," equals "satanists kill your dog"

Having said that, If I should dissapear at some point during the year, one might want to start looking for me here. You can stay in a yacht-converted-trailer, listen to old timey music, and literally travel back in time, a la, "Somewhere in Time." Just to heighten the experience I'll bring along a VHS tape of "Race with the Devil." Learn more about Bisbee, Arizona, runner-up for "Americas Quirkiest Town."

Damn, I'm out of Campari...

For RG, working on Saturday. (Again). Does this sound familiar to anyone else?

Vintage and International Posters from Around the Globe

You'll be directed to mid-century Switzerland.

Aw, can't resist linking to this blog dedicated to cute things falling asleep.

A Video Movie could improve your Life!

As local television commercials go, I find a great deal of truth in the sentiments expressed in this one. I'll be sure to re-post this one during wedding season.

There's more to life than Trivial Pursuit, smarty pants. Here's an opportunity to kill zombies and impress your mom. Bring game night back!

James Bond, meet L' Inspecteur

This one nearly got away, but I'm so glad I was exposed to this French gem the other night. Though it's very light on the spy gadgetry and as MD points out, a respectable car wrecking action sequence, It was an hour and a half of pure judo-chopping delight. Who knew the french were funny? This is OSS 117 Cairo, Nest of Spys.

"Jaws" vs. Underwater Sculptures

You know when you're swimming out in the ocean, especially at night, and "it" pops into your head? As when "Zor" beckons the Ghostbusters to choose their "destructor" and poor Dan Akroyd can't stop his brain from inviting the Cream-Puff Marsh mellow Man to come after them- you know what I'm getting at...
I just thought that as majestic as this scene is, I'm inclined to appreciate it's downright scary attributes, and I only regret that I won't be able to randomly come across it someday when I'm in the ocean trying to force "duh Dom" out of my head. Here you go, underwater sculptures by Jason de Caires Taylor.

posted without comment

Jewelry for anti-hipsters

Once I was given a piece of jewelry by an employer, who said to me as she handed it to me, "I thought it was like you, feminine, with a bit of an edge..."
So if you're cool, but you don't like to advertise it (a hipster), but you're not so cool that you don't mind putting a little effort into your presentation, (an anti-hipster), take a look at these white-trash-with-a-bit-of-an-edge covets by Han Cholo.

Think of Hockey-checking- down-hill, through City Streets

This morning it was a little extra cozy in the Hollywood bunker, as it was raining hard enough that I could hear it hitting the pavement outside. Well, that's as close as we get to winter around here, and it got me thinking about Winter and in turn a city that does Winter extremely proud, Quebec City. Here's an activity that scares the hell out of me, but I'm glad I get a chance to see it. From the people who brought you Flugtag:

Game Theory as evidenced in "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly"

Okay, you be Lee Van Cleef, I'll be Eli Wallach, and, no wait, I'll be Clint Eastwood and you're Lee Van Cleef...
Isn't it amazing how often we find ourselves in these impossible situations? Here's some information on using science of the mind to get yourself out of a sticky wickett. Find more examples of game theory in film here.

I have never ventured into being a bloggernaut before.  Bravo for keeping out of the white box of perceived cool and offering pure inspiration for the mental bar brawl that some of us (gladly) suffer.
While we're on the subject...

Thirteen days 'till Christmas. If I had a secret den, aside from my standard calculating electronic instruments and radar screens, I'd surely find space for some of these items. (wink).

Ooooooh. Very cool, very public art instalation. Thanks, Jake.

What I learned from "Joe vs. the Volcano"

Some people are naturally adept at maintaining a positive attitude during times of tribulation. One of my favorite examples of this is Joe, who aside from being terminally ill, is stranded in the Pacific Ocean on his luggage-raft. "Oh, he's just positive because he's hallucinating due to dehydration and sun-stroke," you say. Okay, you're right, but I have to add that it's always a good idea to know how to play at least one song on the ukulele.

How Looney Tunes makes geniuses like Billy Collins

This morning I was watching cartoons and it reminded me of this fantastic article that I saved just to share with you. Take the time to read this and have something interesting to talk about at your next Christmas party.

Don't get the wrong idea, but I do enjoy some of Los Angeles' "dead" real-estate! Add to the beautiful gardens and tombstones a party or an art show and, sure, I'm there!

42 street grindhouse fare

Related to a conversation earlier today. Sure to bring the wrong kind of warm fuzzies to anyone who's seen this film. I'm glad I was able to find this image-free clip to share. For everyone else: yes, the music is ironic.

Anyone visiting Hollywood in the next couple of weeks with the intention of picking up some choice gifts (ahem), go here, here, and ah yes, here. All conveiniently within the same block.

The Title of this is Creepy Fellini Dance, and I can't decide which aspect is creepiest. I really like the music though, and this is for Luke, in Italy.

Oh! Thank you Dewars, Happy Anniversary!

Speaking of reading, related to the last.

I guess these groovy book covers designed by David Pearson would fall into the category of objects I'd like to put in fames and hang. They remind me of the kind of books I'd look at while sitting in the shag-carpeted bathtub at the library when I was a kid.

I love this man, and not just because he stars in my favorite Christmas film!

Thanks for the invite, Lindsay!

You know I LOVE that art piece!
How the heck did you do that?
I need to figure out how to decorate my blog...hmmmm.
Also, your blog has more links to cool sites (including
a new Horror Site that is a favorite of mine)!

What the heck?!

I gotta get on the ball here and figure this stuff out!
Keep on blogging, sister! Check out my thoughts
on "re-spamming" when you get the chance.

Shannon

Last night above Los Angeles. I can tell you it didn't look like that from my perspective.

For M.I.L.F. types this Christmas give your Children the gift of cool.I chose this one, and hoping to get this one.

You can fit a lot of emotion into six and a half minutes. Thanks to Cinema Styles for proving it.